Carnation named Longorin

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct spray carnation cultivar particularly distinguished by its blossoms the petals of which are a variegation of Shrimp Red and Turkey Red colors, the flowers being borne in a spray on rather rigid, upright stems having abundant foliage, and the plant having a vigorous and upright growth habit which is resistant to Fusarium oxysporum.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

Our new spray carnation cultivar is the result of breeding effortscarried on by us at La Londe, Les Maures, France, since 1975 with theobject of developing new spray carnations having nice color, goodquality of flower stem and plant growth, and resistance to Fusariumoxysporum. This new plant originated as a seedling produced by ourcrossing of selected and individually identified plants growing amongour stock of spray carnations maintained at La Londe for breedingpurposes and this particular seedling was selected by us for propagationand test because of its very strong flower coloration and its apparentlyvery favorable growth habit. This discovery plant was reproduced by usat La Londe, by means of cuttings, with such a favorable result withrespect to retention by the novel characteristics of the parent plantthat we continued such propagation through several successivegenerations over a period of years, which demonstrated that the noveland distinctive characteristics of the discovery plant are fullyretained from generation to generation and appear to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Our new spray carnation is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows, in full color, the upper portion of a typicalflowering stem with buds and flowers in various stages of opening, thecolors shown being as nearly true to those specified herein as isreasonably possible to obtain by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of our new spray carnationdiscovery based upon observations of greenhouse grown plants at LaLonde, France, in the Spring of 1983, the color designations beingspecified according to The R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The RoyalHorticultural Society of London, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: Seedling.

Parentage:

Seed parent.--"Fashion" (unpatented).

Pollen parent.--Stock Plant No. 72 M C 1. The unnamed variety isindividually identified in our permanent records and it, as well as thenamed variety, is maintained in our carnation collection for breedingpurposes at La Londe, France.

Classification:

Botanic.--Dianthus caryophyllus.

Commercial.--Spray Carnation.

Form: Tall, erect bush with at least four stems emitted near the ground.

Height: Averages about 102 cm. at eight months.

Main stem:

Length.--Less than 15 cm. due to pinching.

Branching character: Moderately branched.

Growth habit: Vigorous, upright and rigid.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Rather abundant.

Number of leaves.--At least 120.

Leaf size.--Medium, averaging about 10 cm. long and 1 cm. wide at theseventh node.

Leaf shape.--Linear with acuminate tip and rolled margins.

Texture.--Leathery.

Color.--Upper side -- 189B. Under side -- 189B.

Ribs and veins.--Hardly noticeable.

Rachis.--Hardly noticeable.

THE BUD

Form: Ovoid.

Size: Medium.

Diameter.--About 1.3 cm. in average.

Length.--About 3 cm. in average.

Rate of opening: Normal for carnations.

Color of petals:

When sepals first divide.--Salmom and Delft Rose.

When petals begin to unfurl.--Shrimp Red with Turkey Red variegation.

Sepals:

Number.--Five.

Shape.--Sepals are joined at the lower part with the upper part of acuteform and sharply pointed at the apex. The sepals are hooded over the budand stand up when the flower opens.

Color.--Inside -- Greenish White. Outside -- 138A.

Calyx:

Shape.--Rather cylindrical to bell-shaped.

Splitting.--The calyx does not split.

Aspect.--Smooth.

Flower stem:

Length.--About 62 cm.

Character.--Erect and rather thin.

Color.--189B.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Recurrent, blooming profusely during the midseason ofSpring and Fall.

Size of bloom: Small.

Diameter.--Averages about 5.5 cm.

Depth.--Averages about 5.2 cm.

Borne: In cluster.

Shape:

When bloom first opens.--High centered.

When bloom matures.--Dome-shaped.

Petalage:

Number of petals.--About 21 in average.

Arrangement.--Imbricated.

Form.--Fan-shaped, flat at center with undulate margins.

Texture.--Soft.

Color.--Outer Petal: Body -- 33D with 46C margins and body splotches.Base -- Greenish yellow. Reverse side -- 27A and 46D. Inside Petal: Body-- 33D and 46C. Base -- Greenish yellow. Reverse side -- 27A and 46D.

Flower stem:

Length.--About 62 cm. (cut at tenth node).

Character.--Upright and of good strength.

Color.--189B.

Fragrance: Lightly perceptible.

Persistence: The flower petals hang on and dry.

Lasting quality:

As cut flower.--At least ten days in vase keeping.

Disease resistance: Resistant to Fusarium oxysporum as observed INRA,Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Number.--Ten, in average.

Arrangement.--Around the pistils.

Anthers.--Size: Less than 4 mm. Color: Whitish.

Filaments.--Color -- Whitish.

Pistils:

Number.--Two.

Styles.--Color -- Whitish.

Stigmas.--Color -- Slightly pinkish.

Character of ovaries: Hardly ribbed and with chlorophyll.

This plant most resembles "Ministar" (unpatented) and differs by havinga plainly more rounded flower petal, a spray which is more gathered atthe top, and by its resistance to Fusarium oxysporum.

We claim:
 1. The new and distinct spray carnation cultivar,substantially as herein shown and described, chracterized by thevariegated light and dark red appearance of its small blossoms which areproduced profusely on long, straight and strong flowering stems; and byits vigorous and upright growth habit, abundant foliage, and resistanceto Fusarium oxysporum.